Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Dr. Flea Disappears

Flea, a weblog by an anonymous pediatrician "in solo practice in the Northeast U.S." On his website, Flea tackles many issues facing pediatricians today: from childhood obesity to anti-vaccination moonbats and their websites that scare parents with pseudo-scientific proclamations. Congratulations, Dr. Flea! Job well done.

Now, if you click on over to the Flea blog or on the Flea profile, you'll see that it's all gone (Thanks Carrie for the heads-up). If you have been following over there, you know that Dr. Flea is/will be going through some litigation.

It was actually an interesting series that he was putting together over there. But, probably his lawyer or the lawyers from the other side somehow found out about his blog and pulled the plug.

This is a concerning trend. There's been previous mention of Barbados Butterfly (in Grand Rounds) leaving the blogosphere. Cathy recently had her blogger URL hijacked. Now, there's no Dr. Flea. What's going on out there in blog land?

I know that I'm not going to be the only one saying this, but I'm going to very much miss Dr. Flea and his witty rantings. Dr. Flea, if you're still out there, you have an open invitation to guest post on my blog any time. Best of luck in your court case. We're all pulling for you.

24 comments:

I'd like to also say how much I'm going to miss Dr. Flea!! He's always been one of my favorite bloggers. I can't really say it on my own blog - well I could, but it wouldn't be read by the masses or anything! - so I'll just say it here!

Dr. Flea - I hope that things work out for you and that you're able to come back to the blogosphere sometime soon.

You know, when I tried to visit Dr. Flea's blog today, I thought sure his URL had been hi-jacked. But, after thinking about it, and talking to a few other people I think what you say is probably what happened.

Yes, the blogosphere has had it's moments recently. I am getting an email ready to send you tomorrow Dr. A....

first, Cathy's (cathy's rants and ramblin's) blog gave me the message it was only for invited readers, then it was not found. i also got the same message with Carrie (neonursechic). i just thought they had reasons for not inviting me to read their blogs, and i didn't feel comfortable asking why. then i assumed Cathy just changed from blogger to whatever. i didn't know something was fishy.

now, dr. flea? he doesn't know me, but i do read his blog...i hope things are well with him despite all these mysterious disappearances.

I thought we all had the right of free speech. I don't remember a time that Flea thumbed his nose in a flagrant HIPAA violation..I always thought he had an interesting point of view (though his photo, or at least the one he chose) always kinda freaked me out:) I think when people go against the mainstream on most topics they are held out for scrutiny. Now Dr. A, it is all up to you :)

May - It was nothing personal. My blog is sitting idle at the moment. If I start it back up, I will invite you and I have a bunch more people who I didn't invite in that I want to. I miss blogging.......publicly. *sigh*

Free speech right? A misunderstood concept. The 1st Amendment protects citizens from prosecution by THE GOVERNMENT for things they say or write. It does not protect anything, and I mean anything, else. The 1st amendment does not protect a citizen from being fired from a job or from being dropped by your insurer because of things they say or write. The fleas has been collared!

Oh May, Im sorry you thought that! I have tried to get the word out as to what happened, with my blog but its hard to do that when you no longer have a blog...:)If you visit Mary Anne's (smalltown RN...A Place I call Home) blog, she wrote a post for me and I explained alot in the comments.

Two of my top favorite medbloggers gone in an instant...what a pity. I wish they had at least found a way to leave their archives. Particularly Dr. Flea, whose autism/vax posts were ones I often linked to.

I'm bummed as well. Dr. Flea gave me some good insight into many things, and saved me a few trips to the Dr.'s for 'scrips. Several of his stories were quite inspirational.

There *was* too much personally identifiable information on his blog, though, making it fairly easy to Google for him. If he was a little bit closer I'd bring my kids to him, so maybe he can figure out a way to come out when his trial is over and capitalize on his writing skills, sharp mind, and personality. I sure hope the plaintiff's council didn't get ahold of his Internet records or something.

Freedom of speech? You've got to be kidding. The article in the Globe today, my only exposure to his writings, was stunning. The incredible lack of judgement exhibited by the man floored me - I came close and still might contact his employer since I believe wholeheartedly that he should be fired and hope that he is censured if he doesn't lose his license permanently. To write about the trial, disparaging participants, is the height of stupidity, arrogance and ignorance. The trial was about the death of a child! And he's on trial! And to refer to the attorney as a possible "pillow biter"??!! I've spoken with a dozen people about the article today - and I'm sure I'm in good company. Run screaming in the night if he was my child's doctor. If he's not mentally unhinged he's at a minimum an egomaniac with absolutely no sense regarding how his words and actions are perceived by others. I'm a card carrying member of the ACLU and this has less than nothing to do with freedom of speech. I hope he paid through the nose in the settlement and I hope that there are further consequences.

"The article in the Globe today, my only exposure to his writings, was stunning."

That's too bad, because his writing is very good. He's also published regularly in Bay State Parent, and is a frequent contributor to the Manic Mommies Podcast. You should check them out...but I suspect you won't.

"The incredible lack of judgement exhibited by the man floored me - I came close and still might contact his employer since I believe wholeheartedly that he should be fired and hope that he is censured if he doesn't lose his license permanently."

His employer is himself--he's a solo practitioner. And to fire someone for expressing their opinions? Wow.

"I've spoken with a dozen people about the article today - and I'm sure I'm in good company. Run screaming in the night if he was my child's doctor. If he's not mentally unhinged he's at a minimum an egomaniac with absolutely no sense regarding how his words and actions are perceived by others."

He's my son's pediatrician, and he's a damn good one. I read his blog regularly, and while, yes, he did come off as a bit "arrogant" online, he is honest and absolutely tells it as he sees it in person. I will NOT be leaving his practice, and I truly hope that others don't do the same.